How to Perform Local Upgrade to GWN76XX Access Points using DHCP Option 43 Without Internet Access

Description

This article is designed for users who may not have the ability to perform a remote upgrade or access the Web GUI for firmware uploads to the Grandstream access points. Upgrading the device can be accomplished using the DHCP Option 43 Option. This approach allows users to efficiently manage the upgrade process without needing direct internet access.

DHCP option 43 is a vendor-specific option that can be used to provide configuration information to DHCP clients. It can be used to provide the DHCP clients with the server's IP address that hosts the firmware files. When the clients receive this information, they can initiate a TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) session to download the upgrade firmware from the server.

Step-by-step Configuration

To successfully upgrade the GWN76XX access point, follow these steps to set up your environment:

Network Topology

Step 1: Connect the network port of your PC to the LAN port of the GWN70x2 router using an Ethernet cable. Set up the HTTP upgrade server (eg, HFS server or Simple HTTP Server) on your PC and ensure that the firmware file (gwn76xxfw.bin) is loaded on the server. The HTTP server's IP address will match that of your PC.

Step 2: Access the GWN70x2 router by navigating to the router's LAN page. Click the edit button for the Default group, and enter 43 the DHCP Option field. Select Type ASCII and Service as Firmware Server.

Step 3: Connect the POE switch to the LAN port of the GWN70x2 router using another Ethernet cable.

During the Upgrade

Step 1: Connect the POE port of the GWN76XX access point to the POE switch. Allow some time for the device to fully boot up.

Step 2: Once the AP has booted, the firmware will begin downloading from the HTTP server. At this stage, you will notice the system indicator light blinking green on the AP. Important Note: Do not disconnect the power supply or the network cable during this process.

Step 3: After the firmware has been successfully downloaded, the GWN76XX AP will enter the reboot phase. Important Note: Again, do not disconnect the power supply or network cable during this time. Wait until you see the solid green light on the GWN76XX's LED, which signifies that the upgrade has been completed successfully.

Step 4: Once the upgrade process is finished, you may disconnect the network cable from the device.